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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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► 

23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

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Technical  and  Bibliogt'aphic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiquas 


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I" 


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lex 


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n 

32X 


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illustreht  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

27th  Congress, 
2d  Session. 


5 


[  SENATE.  J 

3'       J" 


[97] 


V 


/  IMEESSAGS 

FROM 

THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

COMMUKICATIKG 

Copies  of  a  report  and  letter  from  the  commissioners  appointed  for  the 
exploratio7i  and  survey  of  the  northeastern  boundary. 


February  8,  1842. 
Read,  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 


To  the  Senate  of  the  United  States : 

I  transmit,  herewith,  to  the  Senate,  copies  of  a  report  and  letter  from  the 
commissioners  appointed  hy  the  President,  for  the  exploration  and  survey  of 
the  houndary  line  between  the  States  of  Maine  and  New  Hampshire,  and 
the  conterminous  British  provinces,  showing  the  progress  made  in  that  work 
during  the  past  season;  and  submitting  an  estimate,  to  which  I  invite  the  at- 
tention of  Congress,  of  the  funds  that  will  be  requisite  for  completing  the 
surveys  yet  to  be  made  on  the  boundary,  and  the  office  work  consequent 
thereon,  and  for  completing  the  maps  of  surveys  already  made. 

JOHN  TYLER. 

Washington,  February  5,  1842. 


New  York,  January  4, 1842. 

The  undersigned,  commissioners  appointed  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  and  surveying  the  boundary  line  between 
the  States  of  Maine  and  New  Hampshire  and  the  British  provinces  in 
North  America,  respectfully  report: 

That,  in  pursuance  of  the  duties  of  their  appointment,  they  have,  in  the 
course  of  the  late  season,  performed  the  following  surveys  and  explorations ; 

1.  The  meridian  line  of  the  monument  at  the  source  of  the  St.  Croix  has, 
under  the  direction  of  J.  D.  Graham,  been  carefully  and  accurately  traced 
from  the  station  in  the  vicinity  of  Houlton,  where  the  labors  of  the  year  1840 
terminated,  to  a  point  four  miles  north  of  the  St.  John's  river,  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Grand  falls,  being  a  distance  of  eighty-one  miles  from  the  monument. 
The  timber  has  been  removed  along  this  line  to  a  width  necessary  for  its  ac- 
curate prolongation,  and  for  the  requisite  astronomical  observations  at  various 
points  upon  it ;  and  a  correct  profile,  or  vertical  section,  has  also  been  ob- 
tained, by  means  of  the  spirit  level,  the  whole  of  the  distance  above-men- 
tioned. 

Beside  the  astronomical  observations  necessary  to  obtain  and  continue  the 
Thomas  Allen,  print. 


I 


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[  97  ]  2 

due  north  tlirectiou  upon  this  hnc,  niinierons  magnetic  observations  have 
also  been  made  at  a  number  of  points  upon  it,  in  order  to  show  the  physical 
causes  which  must  operate  to  produce  serious  discrepancies  between  a  me- 
ridian line  properly  traceil  and  such  a  one  as  has  actually  separated  the  ju- 
risdiction of  the  two  Governments  since  the  attempt,  in  the  years  1817  and 
1818,  '0  define  and  mark  this  portion  of  the  boundary  under  the  provisions 
of  the  treaty  of  (jllient,  although  no  portion  of  that  line  was  ever  ratified  or 
made  binding  upon  the  parties  to  the  treaty. 

Upon  this  portion  of  the  survey  there  liave  been  chained,  including  meas- 
ured offsets  to  the  old  line,  and  to  other  important  points,  eighty-five  miles. 

Four  hundred  and  fifty-two  transit  observations  of  heavenly  bodies  have 
been  made,  aided  by  three  excellent  ciuonometers,  for  the  detcriuination  of 
die  true  meridian  direction,  most  of  which  also  served  for  the  computation  of 
the  correct  time. 

For  the  deter  nination  of  the  longitude  of  this  meridian,  west  of  the  royal 
observatory  of  G.eenwich,  and  the  latitudes  of  four  important  points  upon  it, 
there  were  made  eighty-five  complete  sets  of  astronomical  observations,  in- 
cluding altitudes  cf  the  sun  and  stars,  and  the  meridian  transits  of  the  moon 
and  moon-culminating  stars. 

The  ninnber  of  barometric  observations  made  upon  the  line  and  in  its  vicin- 
ity is  five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-seven  •,  beside  which,  there 
were  made  at  Calais,  for  comparison  with  the  level  of  mean  tide  on  the  St. 
Croix,  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty-six  similar  observations. 

There  have  been  determined  in  altitude  above  or  below  the  level  of  the 
monimient,  by  means  of  the  spirit-level,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
sixteen  points,  and  the  altitudes  of  one  thousand  eight  lumdred  and  sixteen 
other  points  have  been  similarly  observed,  in  order  to  verify  the  altitude  of 
the  monument  above  the  level  of  mean  tide  at  Calais. 

For  the  determination  of  the  magnetic  variation  at  a  number  of  points  on 
the  meridian  line,  more  than  two  hundred  observations  Lave  been  made 
upon  four  different  needles,  and  for  the  determination  of  the  magnetic  dip  at 
four  principal  stations  on  the  same  meridian,  tluee  hundred  observations  have 
been  made  upon  two  dilferent  needles. 

Under  the  direction  of  the  same  commissioner,  the  line  claimed  by  Great 
Britain  from  Mars  Hill,  and  that  recently  chosen  by  Messrs.  Mudge  and 
Featherstonehaugh,  have  been  surveyed  westward  from  the  meridian  line  to 
the  highlands  near  the  head  waters  of  the  Aroostook,  and  the  necessary  data 
obtained  for  the  construction  of  a  correct  map  of  that  portion  of  country. 

Upon  this  survey,  without  reckoning  the  distances  travelled  for  approach- 
ing many  important  points  of  observation,  there  have  been  actually  measured 
with  the  chain,  and  coursed  with  proper  instruments,  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
seven  miles,  including  the  Aroostook  river  from  its  mouth  to  the  point  where 
it  receives  the  Lapawmpeag  stream,  a  profile  of  the  country  from  the  head 
waters  of  the  Moluncus  to  the  St.  John's  at  Fish  river,  and  such  other  impor- 
tant lines  as  were  necessary  for  obtaining  the  correct  topography  of  the  coun- 
try; and  the  altitudes  of  many  points  upon  the  line  claimed  by  Great 
Britain  as  the  boundary,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Aroostook,  have  been  obtained, 

Ten  principal  points  have  been  determined  in  latitude  and  longitude,  by 
means  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  seta  of  astronomical  observations,  aided  by 
three  good  chronometers ;  and  seventeen  other  points  have  been  determined 
by  triangulation,  with  a  portable  theodolite.  Two  hundred  and  five  points 
have  been  determined  in  altitude,  by  means  of  one  thousand  three  hundred 


"' 


T 


have 
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a  me- 


3  [  97  ] 

and  nineteen  baronicliic  o))!2crvntion?-,  and  sevcnieen  by  means  of  the  theod- 
ohte  and  ^^piril-level.  One  hundred  and  ninety-two  observations  have  been 
made  for  determining'  the  variation  of  the  magnetic  needle,  at,  three  import- 
ant points. 

Tiie  field  duties  al)ovementionod  are  considered  to  furnish  sufficient  data 
for  a  correct  map  of  tlie  line  reported  upon  by  tl\^  late  British  commission- 
ers, (yolonel  Mudge  and  ]\Ir.  Featherstonhaugh,  between  the  St.  John's  river 
and  the  head  of  the  Aroostook;  beside  some  lateral  explorations,  of  con- 
siderable extent,  that  \vill  have  an  important  l)earing  upon  this  branch  of 
the  subject.  The  work  accomplished  is  full  as  nnich  as  could  have  been 
properly  done  in  a  single  season,  marked,  as  the  last  was,  by  an  unusual 
drought  of  long  continuance,  which  rendered  it  impossible  to  ascend,  even 
with  light  canoes,  some  of  the  smaller  streams,  especially  those  forming  the 
northwestermnost  sources  of  the  Aroostook :  these  might  be  profitably  ex- 
plored another  season. 

2.  The  division  under  the  direction  of  A.  Talcott  has,  beside  verifying  a 
part  of  the  line  of  1S40,  and  tracing  the  courtc  of  Indian  stream  (a  branch 
of  the  Connecticut),  to  its  soiu'ce,  explored  aiul  surveyed  the  line  of  high- 
lands which  extends  from  the  Kennebeck  road  to  the  Temiscouata  portage ; 
and  so  nmch  of  the  line  claimed  by  Great  IJritain  as  extends  from  the  Ken- 
nebeck road,  to  the  eastward,  as  far  as  the  head  of  the  Aroostook  river. 

In  the  course  of  this  survey,  widiout  counting  the  lines  of  approach,  or 
groimd  travelled  over  more  than  once,  seven  hundred  and  three  miles  have 
been  passed  over,  and  such  notes  taken  as  will  form  the  basis  of  a  map. 
Of  these  seven  hundred  and  tluee  miles,  three  hundred  and  thirty-five  are 
upon  the  lines  respectively  claimed  as  boundaries  by  the  Governments  of 
the  United  States  and  Great  Britain.  In  the  course  of  these  surveys,  in  or- 
der to  the  geogra])hical  determination  of  the  positioii  of  the  line,  the  latitudes 
of  lifly-four  points  have  been  determined,  by  means  of  one  hundred  and 
fourteen  sets  of  altitudes  of  heavenly  bodies ;  and  the  sets  of  subsidiary  ob- 
servations for  time,  and  for  the  determination  of  longitude,  by  chronometers, 
amount  to  two  hundred  and  forty-live.  The  number  of  points  at  which 
observations  have  been  made  ])y  l)aronietcrs,  for  the  purpose  of  determining 
their  altitudes,  is  nine  hundred  and  thirty,  of  which  six  hundred  and  sixty- 
nine  are  upon  the  boundaries  respectively  claimed  by  the  two  countries. 
The  number  of  separate  sets  of  barometric  readings  made  at  these  points, 
amount  to  nineteen  hundred  and  eighty-one,  while  those  made  at  the  fixed 
stations,  with  which  the  former  are  to  be  compared,  amount  to  sixteen  hun- 
dred and  seventy-one. 

3.  The  division  under  the  direction  of  J.  Renwick,  has  explored  or  sur- 
veyed the  line  of  highlands,  from  the  southeastern  extremity  of  Lake  Meta- 
pediac  to  the  vicinity  of  the  River  du  Loup,  where  the  line  of  survey  has 
been  coimected  with  that  of  A.  Talcott.  In  this  survey  a  gap  is  yet  left  of 
a  few  miles  on  the  western  side  of  the  valley  of  the  Rimouski,  near  it  source. 

In  the  course  of  the  operations  of  this  division,  five  hundred  and  eighty- 
six  miles  have  been  passed  over,  and  such  notes  taken  as  will  form  the  basis 
of  a  map.  Of  these  five  hundred  and  eighty-six  miles,  two  hundred  anil 
seventy-five  have  been  actually  measured :  two  hundred  and  nine  are  upon 
the  boundary  claimed  by  the  United  States,  and  about  thirty  upon  the  line 
pointed  out  by  the  proclamation  of  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  of  the  7th  of 
October,  1763,  as  the  southern  boundary  of  the  province  of  duebec,  making, 
in  all,  two  hundred  and  thirty-nine  miles  of  the  height  of  land. 


if 


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la 


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[97] 


4 


In  the  course  of  these  surveys,  in  order  .0  the  gcographiciil  (Icterniinaliou 
of  the  position  of  the  line,  the  latitudes  of  forty-seven  points  have  been  de- 
termined, by  means  of  eighty-five  sets  of  altitudes  of  heavenly  bodies;  and 
the  sets  of  subsidiary  observations  for  time,  and  for  the  determination  of 
longitude  by  chronometers,  amount  to  one  hundred  and  thirty.  The  num- 
ber of  points  at  which  observations  have  been  made  by  barometers,  for  (he 
purpose  of  determining  their  altitudes,  is  four  Ijundrcd  and  seven,  of  which 
uvo  hundred  and  sixty-seven  are  upon  the  boundary  claimed  by  the  United 
States.  The  number  of  separate  sets  of  l)arometric  readings  made  at  these 
points,  amounts  to  eleven  hundred  and  fifty-three,  while  those  made  at  the 
fixed  stations  amount  to  eight  hundred  and  thirty-seven. 

The  division  of  Major  Graham  not  having  returned  from  the  field  until 
within  a  few  days,  neither  the  reduction  of  the  astronomical  observations  nor 
any  of  the  ofiice  work  preparatory  to  a  general  map  has  yet  been  connnenced 
by  his  division. 

The  office  work  of  the  division  of  A.  Talcott  and  J.  Renwick  has  been 
steadily  carried  on  since  the  return  of  those  commissioners  from  the  field  in 
the  mon»h  of  October,  a'ld  great  progress  has  been  made  in  the  calculations 
and  plotting  preparatory  to  the  construction  of  maps,  and  necessary  as  mate- 
rials for  a  general  report. 

In  this  state  of  the  work  of  the  several  divisions,  the  undersigned  find  them- 
selves under  the  necessity  of  communicating  to  the  State  Department  that 
the  further  progress  of  their  operations  is  about  to  be  arrested  by  the  exhaustion 
of  the  appropriation,  and  of  stating  that  unless  speedy  provision  be  made  for 
the  supply  of  the  necessary  funds,  the  report  of  their  operations  cannot  be 
made  up  in  time  to  be  laid  before  Congress  at  its  present  session. 

The  position  of  the  finances  of  Uie  commission  may  be  seen  by  the  fol- 
lowing statement : 

Of  the  appropriation  of  seventy-five  thousand  dollars  there  have  been 
drawn — 

By  J.  Renwick  -  -  -  -  -     .S'21,000 

By  A.  Talcott  .....       24,200 

By  J.  D.  Graham        ....  -       25,000 


Total  drawn 


ro,2oo 


Leaving  in  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States  four  thousand  eight  hundred 
dollars. 

By  a  careful  estimate,  it  is  found  that  to  finish  the  office  work  of  (he  sev- 
eral divisions  there  will  be  required  over  and  above  any  balances  in  the  hands 
of  the  several  commissioners — 

For  the  division  of  J.  Renwick    ...  -       $3,000 

For  the  division  of  A.  Talcott      ....         5,800 
For  the  division  of  J.  D.  Graham,  including  some  arrearages  due 

for  instruments,  and  to  assistant  engineers  attacheil  to  this 

division   ..-.--         G,500 


15,300 


Making,  in  all,  fifteen  thousand  three  hundred  dollars,  and  leaving  to  be 
provided  for  the  completion  of  the  work  of  the  late  season  ten  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars. 


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o 


[97] 


Tlie  uiuloisignctl  onnnot  refrain  from  slating  that  the  ncocssily  of  applying 
for  fiinlier  funds  was  tniexpocled  by  each  of  them  indivichially,  as  it  is  pain- 
ful to  them  collectively.  There  are,  however,  reasons  that,  in  their  opinion, 
arc  incontrovertilile,  which  have  led  to  an  cxpendiiure  thus  exceeding  their 
cstiniate  siibniitled  to  tlie  Secretary  of  Slate  the  llth  of  Jannary,  ISll : 

1.  The  estimate  for  ihc  expenses  of  *he  division  under  the  direction  of 
Major  Graham  amoimted  to  twenty-two  ihousand  live  hundred  dollars.  This 
referred  only,  however,  to  the  contiiuiation  of  the  survey  of  the  meridian 
hue,  and,  ;;s  tlio  country  had  been  represented  by  the  most  authentic  maps 
as  generally  rising  from  the  moniuneiu  to  the  north,  it  was  inferred  that  the 
timber  to  be  cut  away  in  opening  this  line  through  a  dense  forest  would  be 
of  the  description  generally  found  upon  elevated  and  dry  lands,  and  the  labor 
supposed  to  be  requisite  was  estiniatcd  accordingly.  So  far,  however,  from 
iliis  being  the  case,  twenty-six  miles  out  of  the  thirty-two,  between  the  base 
of  Park's  ridge,  near  Houlton,  and  the  river  Des  Chutes  (six  miles  north  of 
ilic  latitude  of  Mars  Hill),  have  actually  been  found  to  be  below  the  level  of 
the  monument,  ami  intersected  by  swamps  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of 
cedar  and  odier  timber  common  to  such  land,  extrentely  dilTicult  to  cut  away. 
More  than  double  the  labor  estimated  had,  therefore,  to  be  performed  in  ac- 
complishing this  and  all  similar  portions  of  die  work,  and  a  corresponding 
increase  of  expense  was  unavoidable. 

In  addition  to  this  increased  labor  upon  the  meridian  line,  the  division  of 
Major  Graham  has  executed  the  surveys  between  that  line  and  the  head 
waters  of  the  Aroosiook,  already  given  in  detail,  the  expenses  for  which  were 
net  estimated  or  included  in  the  sum  above  mentioned. 

The  cost  of  this  survey,  including  the  instruments  that  were  required  for 
if,  has  amounted  to  five  thousand  five  hundred  dollars ;  and,  while  this  sum 
should  be  added  to  the  original  csumate  for  this  division,  (he  expenses  of  the 
divisions  of  the  other  two  commissioners  have  not,  in  any  manner,  been 
thereby  diminished,  for  the  actual  quandty  of  work  performed  b''  them  has 
exceeded  what  was  supposed  from  the  best  maps  extant  to  be  necessary 
upon  the  whole  of  the  lines  claimed  by  the  two  Governments  respectively, 
exclusive  of  the  meridian  line,  as  will  hereafter  be  shown. 

There  was  another  cause  which  tended,  in  a  great  degree,  to  augment  the* 
expenses  of  this  division  in  propordon  to  the  progress  of  die  work,  which  it 
was  not  within  the  power  of  human  agency  to  control,  and  which  we  should 
not  omit  to  mention  here. 

The  severe  drought  which  prevailed  throughout  this  region  of  country  dur- 
ing the  month  of  August  and  the  greater  part  of  September,  caused  the 
fires,  which  are  annually  set  tw  tlie  fallen  Umber  upon  newly-cleared  lands, 
to  spread  far  and  v;ide  into  the  growing  forest,  and  so  rapid  was  its  progress, 
and  so  serious  its  ravages,  as  to  compel  the  inhabitants,  in  many  cases,  to  fly 
for  the  preservation  of  life.  Some  check  was  experienced  in  the  duties 
along  the  meridian  line,  from  the  flames  Uiat  actually  embraced  it,  but  a  far 
more  serious  one  from  the  dense  smoke  which  filled  the  atmosphere  almost 
incessantly  for  six  weeks,  and  so  obstructed  the  view  as  to  render  it  impossi- 
i-le  to  fix  the  stations  in  advance  with  die  requisite  precision. 

While  the  party  charged  with  the  astronomical  operations  was  thus  de- 
prived of  the  opportunity  of  making  scarcely  any  progress  for  six  weeks,  the 
expense  of  maintaining  it  could  not  in  any  way  be  diminished,  because 
there  was  a  daily  hope  that  such  a  change  in  die  weather  might  occur  as 
would  have  removed  this  difiiculty. 


f 


ir 


£97] 


6 


^ 


In  Older  (o  make  amends,  ns  far  as  practicable,  for  so  much  time  iinnvoid- 
ably  lost,  this  division  continued  to  prosecute  its  field  (hities  north  of  the 
forty-seventh  degree  of  latitude,  until  several  weeks  after  the  severities  of 
Avinter  had  commenced,  with  no  other  protection  than  their  tents;  the  com- 
missioner in  charge  of  it  believing  that  the  expectations  of  the  (lovemmeni, 
and  of  the  country  generally,  woukl  but  be  fuUilled  by  the  invi^stigalions 
in  relation  to  this  important  line  being  pushed  to  the  utmost  attainal)le  point. 
But  for  this,  it  wouhl  have  been  impossil)le  to  have  reacheil  the  .St.  John's 
river  the  late  season. 

There  remains  to  be  survej^ed  along  this  meridian  line,  in  order  to  reach 
the  northwest  angle  of  Nova  Scotia,  as  claimed  by  the  United  .Stales,  about 
sixty-four  miles,  to  accomplish  which  will  recinire  another  season  of  active 
field  duty. 

2.  In  the  estimate  for  the  work  of  the  divisions  of  A.  Talcottand  J.  Ren- 
wick,  it  was  assumed  that  the  length  of  the  boundary  remaining  on  the  line 
claimed  by  the  Ignited  Slates,  was  three  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  and 
upon  the  lines  claimed  by  Great  Britain,  one  hundred  and  seventy  miles. 

Of  the  latter,  about  one  half  was  undertaken  by  Major  Graham's  divisions- 
leaving  for  the  estimated  distance  to  be  surveyed  by  the  divisions  of  A.  Tal- 
cctt  and  J.  Renwick,  four  hundred  and  live  miles. 

It  will  appear  by  the  statement  hereinbefore  given,  that  the  joint  smveys 
of  these  two  divisions  upon  the  lines  of  highlands  have  actually  amounted 
to  five  hundred  and  seventy-fou'-  miles.  Upon  the  principle  of  their  esti- 
mate, the  probable  cost  of  this  would  have  amounted  to  forty-nine  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  forty-six  dollars  and  thirty-seven  cents,  and,  with  the  addi- 
tion for  instruments,  and  for  the  additional  cost  of  the  more  remote  parts  of 
the  line,  to  fifty-seven  thousand  seventy-nine  dollars  and  seventy  cents. 

The  actual  cost,  including  the  foregoing  estimate,  for  the  completion  of 
the  work,  is  fifty-four  thousand  dollars. 

It  will  ap^iear,  therefore,  that  when  the  increased  extent  of  the  work  per- 
formed, over  that  made  the  basis  of  the  estimate,  is  considered,  (he  cost  of 
performing  it,  so  far  from  having  exceeded  the  estimate,  has  fallen  short  of  it 
])y  three  tliousand  dollars. 

The  reason  of  the  discrepancy  between  the  real  extent  of  the  line,  as  ac- 
tually measured,  and  that  which  formed  the  basis  of  the  calculation,  is,  that 
the  latter  was  made  by  reference  to  the  best  existing  maps,  which  were  con- 
sidered to  be  entitled  to  a  certain  degree  of  credit.  Upon  the  close  exami- 
nation which  the  operations  o'f  the  late  season  have  afforded,  these  maps  have 
been  ascertained  to  be  exceedingly  erroneous.  Well-known  streams  have 
been  found  to  extend  in  either  direction,  many  miles  beyond  (he  points  a( 
Avhich  their  sources  have  been  laid  down  on  the  maps,  and  great  rivers  and 
lakes  have,  as  it  were,  been  discovered,  of  which  no  delineation  had  ever 
been  given  by  geographers.  The  extent  of  these  errors  in  remote  and  diffi- 
cultly-accessible points,  may  be  inferred  from  what  has  been  found  to  occur 
in  the  part  of  the  region  which  is  most  accessible,  best  known,  and  most  fre- 
quently traversed. 

On  the  Temiscouata  por(age,  a  road  (ravelled  weekly  by  the  mail  of  her 
Britannic  majesty,  continually  passed  by  the  officers  of  her  various  services, 

*  It  has  already  been  stated,  that  in  the  survey  of  the  portion  of  this  line  allotted  to  Major 
'Graham,  there  were  aetually  measured  upon  it,  with  the  chain,  two  hundred  and  seventy-six 
miles,  and  this  did  not  constitute  more  than  one  half  the  labor  and  expense  incident  to  all  th<^ 
duties  enumerated  and  performed  by  his  division,  on  his  portion,  so  much  did  the  work  required 
upon  this  portion  of  it  exceed  what  was  estimated  for  the  whole  of  it. 


i 


oiil- 


)OUt 

dive. 


7  [  97  ] 

whicli  hud  been  carefully  suivoycd  l)y  civil  engineers,  prcpaialoiy  lo  i(a  re- 
coii:?tructioM,  and  which  hius  been  travelled  by  lh«  surveyors  of  both  coun- 
tries luulcr  the  Joint  connnission,  it  had  hitherto  been  believed,  and  it  was 
so  represented  on  all  the  iuaps,  both  Entrlish  and  American,  that  the  line 
dividins;  the  waters  crossed  the  road  three  limes.  The  surveys  of  the  late 
season  show  that  the  boundary  clainiod  by  the  United  States  crosses  this  road 
five  times,  ajul  it  became  necessary  to  explore  the  culminating  points  of  the 
valle}s  of  four  streams,  instead  of  two,  as  had  been  anticipated.  Instances 
of  the  same  sort,  but  which  do  not  admit  of  verbal  description,  have  occurred 
on  every  par!  of  the  lines  of  highlands. 

The  two  conunissioners  whose  operations  arc  under  consideration,  no 
doubt  had  it  in  their  power  to  have  suspended  their  operations,  and  returned 
so  soon  as  the  portion  of  the  appropriation  placed  at  their  disposal  was  so  far 
exhansted  as  to  leave  no  more  than  would  be  needed  to  complete  their 
office-work.  But  they  feel  satisfied  that  they  would  not  have  been  justified 
in  so  doing,  so  long  as  any  portion  of  the  line  remained  unsurveyed,  or  the 
weather  would  permit  a  party  to  keep  the  field.  Thus,  although  in  the  original 
plan  for  th(^  partition  of  the  work,  it  was  estimated  that  their  lines  would 
probably  be  connected  in  the  parallel  of  the  river  Orielle,  about  thirty  miles 
south  of  Tenuscouata  portage,  when  it  was  found  that,  from  unforeseen  de- 
lays in  the  transportation  of  the  party  of  J.  RenwMck,  by  sea,  to  their  work, 
and  on  the  river  St.  liawrcncc,  from  one  station  to  another,  it  became  doubt- 
ful whether  he  could  pass  the  Temiscouata  portage  before  the  woods  became 
impassable,  his  colleague  continued  his  parties  in  the  field  until  the  junction 
was  eflfected.  In  this  way,  while  the  expenses  of  the  division  of  J.  Ren- 
wick  have  not  been  materially  diminished,  those  of  the  division  of  A.  Tal- 
cott  have  been  largely  increased ;  but  a  portion  of  the  general  work  has 
been  accomplished  which  might  otherwise  have  been  left  incomplete. 

The  undersigned,  in  conclusion,  beg  leave  respectfully  to  urge  the  im- 
portance of  a  speedy  appropriation  to  enable  them  to  make  up  their  report. 
A  delay  of  an}'^  continuance  will  be  productive  of  evil,  either  by  enhancing 
the  cost  of  ofiice-work,  or  by  rendering  it  difficult  in  consequence  of  the  dis- 
persion of  the  engineers  and  surveyors  by  whom  the  field-notes  have  been 
taken.  Upon  the  completion  only  of  such  a  report,  will  it  be  possible  to 
jender  apparent  how  much  of  the  whole  task  has  been  accomphshed,  and 
liow  much  remains  to  be  performed ;  and  the  Department  will  then  have  it 
in  its  power  to  decide  whether  the  part  that  has  not  been  completed  is  of 
such  importance  to  the  question  at  issue  as  *to  require  furUier  operations 
upon  it. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

JAS.  RENWICK, 
A.  TALCOTT, 
J.  D.  GRAHAM, 

Commissionei's. 

Hon.  Daniel  Webster, 

Secretary  of  State. 


Washington,  January  25, 1842. 
Sir  :  The  undersigned,  commissioners  appointed  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  for  the  purpose  of  surveying  and  exploring  the  boundary  line 


[97] 


8 


ji 


\  S 


1! 


'   n 


between  the  Stales  of  Maine  anil  New  Hamii.>liirc,  niul  the  Biiiirfli  provinces', 
beg  leave,  in  compliance  with  your  directions,  to  submit  an  eaiinuiie  for  th^' 
operations  of  the  commission  for  the  ensuing  year. 

So  much  of  your  directions  as  regard  the  slate  of  the  survey,  and  il;e 
amount  required  to  complete  the  oflice  work,  preparatory  to  a  report,  has  al- 
ready been  laKl  before  you,  in  their  report  of  the  lib  January,  1842,  prepareil 
in  anticipation  of  your  orders.  Hy  reference  thereto,  it  will  appear  thai  tlie 
delineation  of  the  meridian  of  the  source  of  St.  Croix,  has  not,  in  spite  of 
every  effort  on  the  part  of  the  conmiissioner  to  whom  it  was  assigned,  been 
pursued  further  than  eighty-one  miles  from  the  monument.  Sixty-four 
miles,  therefore,  of  the  said  meridian  line  remain  to  be  surveyed,  before  thic; 
part  of  their  task  is  completed.  The  other  two  commissioners,  while  they 
Avould  not  have  hesitated  to  join  in  a  final  report,  in  case  the  state  of  the  sur- 
vey of  the  meridian  line  would  have  permilted  ii,  are  aware  that  the  hasty 
manner  in  which  their  work  \vas  performed,  in  anticipalionof  completing  the 
object  of  their  appointment,  during  the  past  year,  leaves  room  for  a  more  ac- 
curate examination  of  some  parts  of  the  lines  they  have  surveyed.  Some 
poriions,  also,  of  the  lines  intrusted  to  them,  respectively,  were  not  reached ; 
and,  in  addition,  a  part  of  the  survey  which  was  contemplated  in  their  origi- 
nal instructions  from  your  predecessor,  was  not  included  in  their  estimates 
for  the  past  year,  in  consequence  of  its  having  only  a  collateral  relation  to 
the  main  object. 

Thus  the  surveys,  respectively  undertaken  l)y  Messrs.  Tolcolt  and  Graham, 
of  the  lines  claimed  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain,  and  by  Messrs.  Mudge  and 
Featherstonhaugh,  although  brought  near  to  each  other,  have  not  been 
united;  and  a  part  of  the  highlands  claimed  by  the  United  States,  near  the 
source  of  the  Rimouski,  was  not  reached  by  the  parties  of  Professor  Renwick  . 

The  height  of  a  part  of  the  line  explored  by  Captain  Talcott,  in  1841),  ly- 
ing at  the  source  of  Arnold's  river,  was  not  determined  for  the  want  of  a 
barometer. 

Two  or  three  miles  in  lehgth  of  the  line  of  highlands,  near  the  source  of 
the  River  du  Loup,  require  to  be  re-examined. 

The  longitudes  of  Lake  Megantic,  Lake  Etchemin,  the  source  of  the 
Metjarmette,  upon  the  line  of  Captain  Talcott,  and  of  some  one  point  on  the 
line  of  Professor  Renwick,  ought  to  be  ascertained  with  greater  precision  than 
the  time  that  could  be  allowed  during  the  last  season  would  permit. 

The  instructions  of  Mr.  Forsyth  contemplated  an  exploration  of  the  high- 
lands described  in  the  proclamation  of  1763,  as  beginning  on  the  north  shore 
of  the  Bay  of  Chaleurs.  Th«  existence  of  a  continuous  elevated  region,  from 
the  tide  of  that  bay  to  the  termination  of  the  exploring  meridian  line,  ha:^ 
been  ascertained  in  a  manner  satisfactory  to  the  commission;  but  the  heights 
have  not  been  measured  on  that  part  of  it  which  lies  nearest  to  the  Bay  of 
Chaleurs. 

Under  these  circumstances,  the  undersigned  are  of  opinion  that,  as  no  de- 
lay in  the  presentation  of  a  final  report  will  arise  from  further  explorations  of 
the  parts  of  the  territory  thus  pointed  out,  and  the  more  accurate  examination 
of  the  uncertain  matters,  it  would  add  to  the  confidence  which  may  be  placed 
in  their  results,  that  a  party  be  employed,  under  the  direction  of  each  of  the 
abovenamed  commissioners,  upon  the  said  work.  For  this  object  it  is  esti- 
mated— 

1.  That  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  in  all,  say  twelve  thousand  five  hun- 
dred to  be  expended  under  the  directiott  of  each  of  the  two  above  commis- 


i 


9 


[97] 


s^ioiif'r^,  will  tnm«o.  A  Iras'  pinn  ilmii  llii.s  will  no(  koo]>  two  pnrlios  in  llie 
Tn'ld  fliirinuf  llu' workiiii;'  season;  a  larucr  sum  (oiild  not  advantageously  be 
exjxMKJed  on  ihis  pail  of  (lie  work. 

2.  In  estimntiug-  the  uniouMt  necessary  (or  compiotiny  the  delineation  of 
tiie  meridian  of  the  souree  of  the  river  St.  Croix,  it  will  he  home  in  mind 
that  numerous  astronomical  ohservations  must  be  made,  in  aid  of  the  oper- 
ations with  the  transit  instrument,  in  order  constantly  to  preserve  the  true 
north  direction  ;  a  condition  ot  the  utmost  consequence,  not  alone  as  af- 
fectinii^  the  extent  of  territory  that  will  he  emhraced  by  it,  but  more  particu- 
larly because  the  character  and  position  of  the  highlands  alluded  to  in  the 
treaty  of  1783  would  be  exhibited  in  a  very  dilferent  light  as  encountered 
by  a  line  running  due  iiortli,  as  is  required  by  the  treaty,  and  bj  one  vary- 
ing even  in  a  slight  degree  from  that  di''"''t  jn.  This  principle  has  already 
been  exhibited  in  a  striking  manner,  l)y  tne  trace  of  the  mcrifMan  line  as 
far  as  it  has  now  progressed  ;  k  >.  instead  of  encountering  highland.,  in  the 
latitude  of  Mars  Hill  having  a  claim  to  be  considered  those  described  in  the 
treaty  as  the  intended  boimdary  between  the  two  countries,  the  line  as  re- 
cently traced  actually  passes  that  latitude  at  an  elevation  of  less  than  ten 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  monument,  and  the  greatest  elevation  encoun- 
tered by  this  line,  in  passing  over  any  spur  connected  with  Mars  Hill,  is 
sixty-three  feet  above  the  level  of  the  monument.  In  advance  of  this  spur, 
the  line  becomes  again  depressed  below  the  level  of  the  motuiment,  at  sev- 
eral points  before  it  reaches  the  Aroostook. 

These,  however,  are  only  a  few  of  the  many  facts  that  misrlit  be  adduced 
from  the  surveys  already  made,  to  show  how  important  it  is  to  the  question 
at  issue,  that  every  necessary  means  to  avail  of  the  aids  of  science  should 
be  adopted,  in  order  to  preserve  scrupulously  the  direction  specified  in  the 
treaty,  while  tracing  this  line.  It  must  also  be  remembered  that,  in  the 
further  prosecution  of  this  duty,  a  wilderness  has  to  be  traversed,  totally 
uninhabited,  and  totally  without  roads.  The  only  means  of  progressing 
through  it,  and  of  transporting  the  necessary  provisions  and  the  instru- 
ments indispensable  to  accuracy,  will  be  by  means  of  canoes  for  supplying 
two  or  three  depots  at  points  where  Grand  river  and  the  waters  of  the 
Ristigouche  intersect  the  line,  leaving  the  whole  transportation  along  the 
meridian  to  be  performed  by  packmen,  or  men  carrying  burdens  on  their 
backs.  That  the  usual  avenue  to  give  an  unimpeded  view  alon^^  the  line 
must  be  opened  through  a  dense  forest,  which,  in  the  neighborhood  of  all 
streams  crossing  it,  will  still  be  found  to  consist  of  that  swamp]--  growth 
described  in  the  report  from  the  undersigned  of  the  4th  of  January  instant, 
as  requiring  so  much  labor  to  cut  through  it. 

With  all  these  circumstances  in  view,  the  following  estimate  for  the 
completion  of  the  survey  of  the  meridian  line,  and  for  some  further  surveys 
between  that  line  and  the  source  of  the  Aroostook,  is  submitted ;  and  it  is 
intended  to  embrace  the  expense  of  completing  both  the  field  and  the  oflice 
work  that  will  require  to  be  done  in  order  to  a  final  accomplishment  of  the 
duties. 


I 


li 


J 


[97] 


10 

Estimate  for  the  meridian  line. 


1.  Pay  of  four  assistant  enje:inoers,  from  May  1,  1842,  to 
March  31,  1843,  being  304  days,  at  $4  per  day  each     - 

2.  Pay  of  thr'=e  other  assistant  engineers,  from  May  1,  1842, 
to  December  31,  1842,  being  275  days,  at  $3  per  day 
each     ------- 

3.  Hire  of  thirty  men,  as  axemen,  and  for  preparing,  con- 
structing, and  erecting,  stations  and  signals  in  advance, 
from  June  1  to  November  30,  1842,  being  183  days,  at 
$1  each  per  day  .  .  -  .  - 

4.  Hire  of  thirty  other  men,  as  instrument-carriers,  chain- 
bearers,  canoe-2r.en,  and  packmen,  for  183  days,  as 
above,  at  $1  per  day  each         -  .  -  - 

5.  Hire  of  one  carpenter  and  two  cooks,  183  days,  as  above, 

at  $1  25  per  day  each  -  -  -  , 

6.  Subsistence  of  one  commissioner,  seven  assistant  engi- 

neers, one  carpenter,  two  cooks,  and  sixty  men,  as 
cibove,  being,  in  all,  seventy-one  persons,  while  in  the 
field,  183  days,  at  50  cents  per  day  each,  including 
transportation  of  provisions  to  Grand  falls  of  St.  John's, 
or  1st  depot      -  -  -  -  - 

7.  Purchase  of  barometer,  and  repairs  of  instruments  here 

toforc  used        -  -  -  .  , 

8.  Salary  of  commissioner   .  -  -  - 

9.  Contingencies,  including  stationery,  office-rent,  and  fuel 

and  transportation  of  engineers  and  commissioner  to  and 
froai  the  field 

Total  required  for  the  meridian  line 


$4,864  00 
2,475  00 

5,490  00 

5,490  00 
686  25 


6,496  50 

800  00 
3,000  00 


1,500  00 
30,801  76 


That  i-i  to  say,  thirty  thousand  eight  hundred  and  one  dollars  and  seventy- 
five  cents  :  making  the  whole  amount  for  the  work  yet  to  be  performed  in 
the  field,  on  all  parts  of  the  boundary,  and  for  the  office-work  that  will  be 
consequent  from  the  said  lield-work,  $55,801  75. 
All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

JAS.  REN  WICK,) 
A.  TALCOTT,     V  Ommissionerf . 
J.  D.  GRAHAM,   S 
Hon.  Daniel  Webster,  Secretary  of  State. 

RECAPITULATION. 

1.  Amount  of  estimate  for  completing  the  surveys  yet  required  to  be  made 

on  the  boiuidary,  as  above  stated  -  -  -     $55,801  76 

2.  Amount  of  estimate  rendered  with  report  of  January  4, 

1842,  for  completing  maps  of  surveys  already  made,  &c.        10,500  00 


Aggiegato  amount  required  - 


66,301  75 


